Electromagnetic interposing punch



' p 7, 1963 J. RABINOW 3,104,053

ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERPOSING PUNCH Filed Dec. 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

illi) wn lli'ii 34 Fig. .9

INVEN TOR Jacab Rab/now BY QM? ATTORNEYS United States Patent O M 3,104,053 ELECTRQMAGNETIC ENTERPOSWG PUNCH Jacob Rabinow, Bethesda, Md, assignor to Rabinow Engineering Co., Inc, Rockville, Md.

Filed Dec. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 244,626 6 Claims. (U. 234-115) This invention relates to punch machines and particularly to interposing punches.

There are a number of reliable punch machines which can be acquired at this time. However, there are two major difliculties with machines for punching standard paper tape and standard cards. First, available machines are not fast enough to satisfy modern data-handling needs. Secondly, available machines are complex and expensive. Possibly, the complexity is the factor which at least contributes to comparatively low maximum speeds attainable by available machines. The inertia and acceleration problems are formidable in complex, high speed machines.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a punch machine of the interposing type which is inherently simple and which is not encumbered by inertia and acceleration problems corresponding to those in the conventional, commercially available, interposing type punch machines.

I achieve the above objective by my interposing method. For each hole position in the card (or tape) I have a punch and die hole, together with one interposer. As will be seen later the interposer can be the shank of the punch member or can be a separate part. In either case, I electroma-gnetically attract and/or repel (either or both) the interposer to move it between interposing and non-interposing positions. Thus, as in prior punch machines, I can program my punch machine by interposin g selected punches prior to the punch stroke during a cycle of operation. During the punch stroke, those punches which are interposed will form holes in the card (or tape) and the non-interposed punches will fail to punch.

I am aware of prior punch machines where the interposers are operated in response to electrical command signals. In fact, this is the usual procedure which is implemented in various ways, such as in my prior Patent No. 2,732,900 and in the Connolly Patent No. 2,967,658. In my patent and in the Connolly patent, the electromagnetic actuator (usually a solenoid) which responds to the command signal must move linkages, rockers, levers, etc. to interpose the punch machine. These components obviously have mass, and often have pivots. Therefore, they require space, and are responsible for inertia, acceleration and sometimes vibration problems.

My inter-posing system overcomes these difiiculties by having the interposer (either as the punch member or as an interposer member separate from the punch member) directly attracted and/or repelled by the magnetic field produced in and about a winding and through a magnetic core. The interposer is immersed in the flux field, i.e., it is in flux linkage with the core so as to be attracted or repelled depending on a characteristic (ordinarily polarity) of the command signal to program the punch.

Accordingly, a further object of my invention is to provide an interposing assembly for a punch machine wherein the interposer is in flux linkage with a flux field generating means capable of changing polarity in response to a characteristic of a command signal. The direction of motion of the interposer with respect to the field producing means is governed by the direction of the magnetic field induced by the field producing means.

Prior punch machines of which I am aware, have their interposers mounted for pivotal movement between interposing and non-interposing positions. I have designed Patented Sept. 17, 1963 punch machines Where the interposer's have a sliding (push-pull) motion. In both cases, though, there is a problem of friction which tends to reduce the response time of the interposers, assuming a given power input triggered by the command signals. In some embodiments of my invention, I completely overcome friction problems as applied to the interposer members. In others, the friction problems are greatly minimized. For example, my interposers are comparatively long and are constrained near the punch-end thereof. One embodiment of my punch machine has the electromagnetic field producing means a substantial distance from the constrained end of the interposer to provide a long moment arm through which the available force acts to move the interposer lbetween the interposing and non-interposing positions. Further, the constraint at one end of the interposer member can be simply a loose fit in an apertured guide to prevent the interposer member from moving sideways, but it is free to move at its upper end toward and away from the field generating means. In other embodiments of my invention, the constraint at one end of the interposer is tighter, requiring the interposer member to flex when subjected to fore and aft attraction or repulsion forces of the field producing means. In these forms of my invention, the inherent resilience and elasticity of the interposer members are relied on to allow them to be electromagnetically attracted or repelled between the two stable positions thereof. However, the punch-driving force is transmitted axially through the interposer member whereby the interposer member functions as a column during punching. During the interposing operation, the interposing member functions as a flexible beam.

Another object of my invention is to provide a punch machine with an interposing assembly which, due to its simplicity, is capable of being constructed as a compact unit.

Other objects and features of importance will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated forms of the invention which are given by way of example only. 7

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the punch machine in operation.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary top view of the punch mechanism for a single transverse row of ten possible positions of punching on a record medium such as a card or tape.

FIGURE 3 is a schematic side elevational view showing the mechanism for punching any one or more of the positions of the full field of a conventional card, this figure showing only three of the necessary eighty rows in a conventional card having eight hundred possible punch-positions.

[FIGURE 4- is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a modified punch assembly.

FIGURE 4a is a sectional view taken on the line 4a 4a of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing another modification.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a further modification.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing another modification.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic fragmentary wiring diagram which represents a means for providing command signals for my punch machine.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing one way to prevent the punch members from being over-driven.

Preface FIGURE 1 shows punch machine 10 constructed in accordance with my invention. Card 12 is shown moving in a direction to enter the punch machine, and after it has been punched, it will pass through the discharge opening 14 to be accepted by a receiving device such as a conveyor (not shown), receptacle 16, etc. Although the illustrations show only cards 12 as the punching medium, it is understood that punches in accordance with my invention may be used to punch other media such as paper tape, labels, etc.

My improvements are chiefly concerned with punches which are programmed by interposing selected punch members in response to command signals. Thus, I have schematically shown a command signal generator 18 connected by means of a multi-conductor cable 20 (FIGURE 1) with punch machine 10. The signal generator 18 represents any conventional means for providing electrical command signals for programming the punch for each punch-cycle. For instance, signal generator 18 may be a computer, calculator, manual keyboard, combinations of both, etc.

Interposing punch machines ordinarily have a stationary die plate and a plurality of punch members which are cycled (vertically reciprocated) in time with the movement of the punch medium between the confronting ends of the punch members and the holes in the die plate. This operation is so well known that it is not illustrated, it being understood that the operating mechanism of my punch machine may function in the same way. Another possible mode of operation is to oscillate the die plate while the assembly of punches and interposers are comparatively stationary for actual punching. This operation is merely the inverse of reciprocating the punches. My invention may be used as a part of machines that operate in either way, although I have illustrated only the oscillating die plate alternative.

Punch Machines FIGURES 2 and 3 show portions of two embodiments of my punch, FIGURE 2 showing a single row of punch assemblies transverse to card as it is fed through the punch station by conventional means (not shown) in a step-by-step manner. FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side view showing a plurality of rows of punch assemblies which may be operated simultaneously. It is evident that the number of transverse rows of punch assemblies can be increased by mere duplication of rows so that it is possible to have a full field, multiple selective punch using my interposing system.

Each row of punch assemblies is constructed of a plurality of flat ferromagnetic members, for example member 22, provided with a winding 24 which is also preferably flat so that a plurality of ferromagnetic cores and windings can be assembled compactly as shown in FIGURE 2. All of the ferromagnetic members 22 are held in a fixed position by being secured to the frame 26 (FIGURE 2) of the punch machine.

The punch (and/or interposer) members 28 of each row (FIGURE 3) are made of elongate magnetic members, for example, iron or steel rods of any suitable cross section or shape. Elongate members 28 are both resilient and elastic so as to be capable of deflection as shown by the dotted line position of one of the members in FIGURE 3. The upper ends of the members cooperate with abutments 38 formed along one edge of the cores, and the lower parts of the members 28 pass through openings in a guide plate 32 which is fixed, e.g., by being secured to the frame of the punch machine. Die plate 34 is located opposite the confronting surface of guide 32 to form a throat for receiving card 12. I have schematically shown the means to oscillate the die plate as a pair of cams 36 which are synchronized by means (not shown) with the machine operation.

The operation of the forms of my punch shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 are substantially identical since FIG- URE 3 merely shows a plurality of rows of punch assemblies, and FIGURE 2 shows only a similar single 4 row. The electromagnetic field induced by the command signal from generator 18 and conducted over lines 38, 4t) (FIGURES 3 and 8), has a direction corresponding to the polarity of the command signal. Thus, the pole of the ferromagnetic core 22 at abutment 30 (FIGURE 3) is either south or north depending on the polarity of the command signal. The elongate member 28 is assumed to be a permanent magnet in this embodiment although as will be seen later in connection with FIG- URE 7, it may be the core of another electromagnet to increase the available flux. Assuming that the upper end of member 28 is a north pole and the command signal impressed on winding 24 (FIGURE 3) is in a direction to form a south pole at abutment 30, the upper end of member 28 will be attracted to ferromagnetic core 28 as shown in full lines. This is the interposing position for member 28 as the upper end of member 28 will strike abutment 30 when the die plate 34 is elevated with card 12 in place (FIGURE 3). When the command signal has an opposite polarity, the abutment end of core 22 will be a north pole, thereby repelling member 28 (as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3) so that member 28 is in the non-interposing position when die plate 34 is elevated with card 12 in place (FIGURE 3).

In the various forms of my punch, the interposers are moved between the two positions (interposing and noninterposing respectively) by electromagnetic force which acts directly on a movable member (as member 28 in FIGURE 3) because this member is in flux linkage with the ferromagnetic member with which it is associated. In certain forms, for instance FIGURE 3, the movable members 28 are constrained at one end, e.g., by the apertures in plate 32, allowing them to move vertically but requiring them to flex between interposed and noninterposed positions. In each embodiment, means are required (shown only in FIGURE 3) to prevent the members 28 from simply sliding vertically downward when no card 12 is in the punch station. Very light springs 42 (FIGURE 3) attached to members 28 and to guide 32 can be used for this purpose; and shoulders 43 on the punch members (FIGURE 9) prevent the punch members from being over-driven. Also, to increase the useful flux, a flux return path is established (shown in FIGURES 4, 6 and 7) by having the guide plate or the equivalent (which contacts the members 28) integral with or connected to the ferromagnetic core members 22.

As discussed previously, command signal generator 18 represents any conventional source of command signals. They may be in code requiring a decoder (not shown), and/or in any other suitable form. Since this feature is conventional, I have shown (FIGURE 8) a schematic arrangement where a DC. source 44 is connected to two busses 46 and 48 which are tapped along their lengths by means of conductors, for instance conductors 50 and 52, there being one such pair for each switch 54 to which input command signal lines 38, 40 are attached. Switch 54 is a double pole, double throw, polarityreversing switch which has the effect of reversing the leads of DC. source 44 in impressing command signals to the windings 24. Although relay and/or computer logic circuits will be used in most instances with my punch 10, the principle is shown in FIGURE 8, this being sufficient as the essence of my punch is not in the kind of command signal generator 18 which is used therewith.

FIGURE 4 shows a modification of my punch machine, where the core 22a has a stepped abutment 30a. The upper end of elongate member 28a is correspondingly stepped. Another distinguishing feature of FIG URE 4 is that member 28a is flat and rectangular in cross section (FIGURE 40) and is capable of flexing across its wide dimension by having a necked-down stem 29 adjacent to the lower end of member 28. The reduced punch member 58 is shown at the lower extremity of member 28a (adjacent to guide 32a) and this may be round, rectangular or of any other cross sectional shape. Obviously, the punch member 58 can be omitted if it is desired to usethe portion of member 28a below stem 29 as the punch.

Apart from a transverse stop 60 which is attached to frame 26a to limit the travel of member 28a when repelled by the electromagnetic field to the non-interposing position the operation of the form of punch machine shown in FIGURE 4 is the same as that described before. It is noted that in all forms of my invention, the movable member used as an interposer (either separate as shown in 'FIGURE 6 or as a part of the punch member as shown in the other figures) functions as and is the armature of an electromagnetic device, in contrast to separate interposers which are mechanically connected (usually by pivots) to the armature of a solenoid.

FIGURE 5 shows another form of my punch machine where the elctromagnetic field producing means 2t". are the same as those described before. A characteristic feature of this form of my punch is that the elongate member 28b does not flex between interposing and non-interposing positions. Instead, guide 31b has an opening for member 28b which loosely confines member 2812 for movement in a direction toward and away from an abutment end of core 22b and prevents member 28b from moving laterally. In lieu of a bar stop 60 (FIGURE 4), FIGURE 5 shows a further alternative which may be used in connection with any of my embodiments disclosed herein, i.e., guide stop 6% in the form of a plate attached to the frame of the machine and having a slot 61 through which member 28b extends. The size and shape of slot 61 allows member 28 to move between the full line and dotted line positions but prevents motion perpendicular to and coplanar with that movement.

FIGURE 6 differs from FIGURE 3 only to the extent that elongate member 28c is an interposer separate from punch member 64. The punch member 64 is conventional, having a return spring 66, and constrained by a guide 68. The lower end of member 28c passes through an opening in guide 32c, and is capable of reciprocation but incapable of lateral motion. Thus, when acted upon by the flux field, member 280 will either be attracted or repelled at the upper end thereof causing it to flex between non-interposing and interposing positions.

FIGURE 7 is identical to one of the interposing punch assemblies of FIGURE 3 with the exception that member 218d has a winding 70 thereon and is suitably connected in circuit with winding 24b for simultaneous energization. As noted before, winding 70 can be used in any or all of the various forms of my interposing punch machine. The circuitry of FIGURE 7 is thought to be obvious. Switch 54 (same as in FIGURE 8) reverses polarity of the source 44 to form the command signals which are conducted on lines 50, 52 to the winding 24b. In addition, lines 51, 53 are connected to lines 50, 52 and to the winding 70 to energize it concurrently with winding 24d.

The preceding description pertains to the features of my punch machine. 1 have not illustrated tape feed de vices, card indexers, take-away rollers, guides, etc. which are required and used on all prior punch machines of which I am aware, as these conventional features would tend to obscure the invention. However, it is understood that features such as these and synchronizing mechanical means and/or elcetrical circuits are required so that a punch machine using my invention will be programmed (selected punches interposed or not-interposed) during the proper part of each punch-cycle.

In each embodiment of my punch machine the interposers can be arranged in several ways. The rest position of all interposers can be the non-interposing position, e.g., as shown in dotted lines in (FIGURE 3. To interpose selected punches, these only are attracted to their cores so that when the punch machine is cycled only the interposed punches will form holes in the card. Thereafter the interposers can be returned to the rest position by the inherent elasticity of the interposers and/or return springs (not shown), and/or electromagnetic repulsion. It is possible to arrange the interposers in the opposite way, i.e., where the rest position is the interposing position. The only difference would be that electromagnetic repulsion (instead of attraction) would be used to move the interposers from the rest to the non-interposing position, and electromagnetic attraction used to return them to the rest position. It is now evident that my punch machines can be designed to electromagnetically attract and repel the interposers, or to only retract or only repel the interposers when the inherent elasticity of the interposers and/ or springs are used therewith.

Various other changes, modifications, alterantions, and known expedients may be resorted to without departing from the protection of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a punch machine, a plurality of punching means, a die having a plurality of apertures, and means to provide relative movement between said die and said punching means for each punch cycle; the improvement comprising electromagnetic means for interposing selected punching means, said electromagnetic means including a core and a winding for each punching means, said core and winding being in flux linkage with said punching means to act directly thereon and directly displace selected punching means to program said punching means for a punch cycle of the punch machine, and said cores having abutments which form interposers for said punching means.

Q. The punch machine of claim 1 wherein punching means are elongate members which are inherently resilient and which flex when subjected to magnetic force due to the magnetic field generated in and about said cores and windings.

3. In a punch machine, a plurality of punching means, a die having a plurality of apertures, means to provide relative movement between said die and punching means for each punch cycle, electromagnetic means for interposing selected punching means, said electromagnetic means including a core and a winding for each punching means, said core and winding being in flux linkage with said punching means to act directly thereon and directly displace selected punching means to program said punching means for a punch cycle of the machine, said punching means being elongate members which are inherently resilient and which flex when subjected to magnetic force due to the magnetic field generated in and about said cores and said windings, additional windings on said elongate members, and electric circuit means operatively connecting the windings on said elongate members and the windings on said cores so that they respond in pairs to a command signal.

4. In a punch machine, a frame, an array of adjacent fiat ferromagnetic members connected with said frame, means including windings on said flat members to magnetize said members with a magnetic polarity corresponding to the polarity of command signals to said windings, magnetic members in flux linkage with said ferromagnetic members so that said magnetic members are selectively pushed or pulled by the magnetism of said ferromagnetic members depending on the polarity of said command signals, each of said ferromagnetic members having an abutment approximately axially aligned with an associated magnetic member to transmit punch forces therebetween, and metallic means forming a flux return path between said ferromagnetic and magnetic members.

5. In an interposing punch having a die and a plurality of punching means which are selectively interposed in response to command signals, and means to provide relative movement between the punching means and die for each punch cycle; the improvement comprising a plurality of electromagnetic field producing means including cores provided with windings, said field producing means being responsive to a characteristic of the command signals for establishing the direction of the field provided by said field producing means, interposing means in flux linkage with said field producing means and being immediately and directly attracted or repelled between interposing and noninterposing positions depending on the direction of the associated field, means providing a fiux return path between said interposing means and said field producing means, said interposing means including a plurality of elongate rods provided with windings and forming armatures, each rod constrained at a first end and laterally movable at its second end in a direction approximately normal to its longer dimension to respond to said field producing means, conductive means electrically coupling said core windings and said rod windings as pairs where each pair has a rod winding and a core winding, and

abutment means for said second ends of said rods, said 15 3,059,844

rod second ends being aligned with said abutment means when said rods are in said interposing position and out of line with said abutment means when said rods are in said non-interposing position.

6. The interposing punch machine of claim 5, and said rods being resilient and flexible between interposing and non-interposing positions when acted upon by said field producing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,857,969 Johnson Oct. 28, 1958 2,956,740 McGregor Oct. 18, 1960 2,999,632 Tailleur Sept. 12, 1961 Englund Oct. 23, 1962 

1. IN A PUNCH MACHINE, A PLURALITY OF PUNCHING MEANS, A DIE HAVING A PLURALITY OF APERTURES, AND MEANS TO PROVIDE RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID DIE AND SAID PUNCHING MEANS FOR EACH PUNCH CYCLE; THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS FOR INTERPOSING SELECTED PUNCHING MEANS, SAID ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS INCLUDING A CORE AND A WINDING FOR EACH PUNCHING MEANS, SAID CORE AND WINDING BEING IN FLUX LINKAGE WITH SAID PUNCHING MEANS TO ACT DIRECTLY THEREON AND DIRECTLY DISPLACE SELECTED PUNCHING MEANS TO PROGRAM SAID PUNCHING MEANS FOR A PUNCH CYCLE 